Indicator for telephone-exchange systems



E. W. ADAMS.

INDICATOR FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23, 1918.

1,364, 170. Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

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APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23, I918.

n mm nm in 0 4 4 n; M hm m /W n r m b a P. f 7 E d @h E "WW E EDGAR W. ADAMS, OF EAST GRANGE,

TBIG COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 01? N YORK.

NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB T0 ViTESTEPUN EIlEG- YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW INDICATOR FOR TELEPHONE-EX RANGE SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented an. at, 1%21.

Application filed October 23, 1918. Serial No. 259,424.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR /V. ADAMS, a citizen of the Unitec. States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators for Telephone-Exchange Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

his invention relates to an improvement in telephone exchange systems and has particular reference to an indicator employed to indicate to an operator the number of a telephone line.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved indicator which will effectively and quickly indicate to an operator the numher which is set up at another distant operators position by means of a manually operable device such as a key set.

Another object is the provision of an indicator wherein a plurality of groups of shutters are employed, the shutters of each group being movable to positions where one of the digits of a predetermined number will be indicated to an operator at the termination of the actuation of the shutters of the other groups which control the display of the other digits of said number.

Briefly stated, the invention provides an indicator having groups of shutter elements, each group having selectively controlled electromagnetic devices which operate shutters of the associated group to positions where a series of openings therein will aline. These openings will also aline with the se lected digit in the group, and upon the termination of the setting of the shutters of all the groups, a source of light associated with each will be illuminated and the digits of the selected number displayed to the operator. After ascertaining the number the operator may then, through a manually con trolled key or other element, return the shutters of the groups to normal position and extinguish the sources of light.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, is shown in the accompanying drawings; but it is to be expressly understood that said drawings are employed merely for the purpose of facilitating the description of the invention as a whole and not to define the limits thereof, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose. In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section through the indicator mechanism and illustrating one unit thereof; Fig. 2, is a diagrammatic View showing the lamp cap plate of one unit of the indicator and the group of shutters which co'ciperate therewith; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the indicator illustrating the several lamp cap plates; Fig. is a diagrammatic view showing the circuits employed for operating the indicator.

The indicator mechanism is readily applicable to switcliboards of any well known type and is particularly designed for the purpose of indicating at a B operators position, a number set up at an A operators position, although it will be understood, of course, that the invention may be employed for other purposes as well. In its preferred form, as illustrated in the drawings, the in vention comprises a plurality of superposed plates 5 adapted to be mounted in the face of the switchboard and each containing a plurality of lamp caps 6 for designating digits, as from ,0 to 9. In the present instance four plates are shown whereby a four digit number may be indicated although it will be readily seen that the number of these plates is arbitrary and may be changed in accordance with the size of. an exchange. Disposed rearwardly of the plates 5, is a cas ing 7 and arranged within said casing and associated with each lamp cap plate 5, is a group of four shutters 8,. 9, l0 and 11. These shutters are' disposed in juxta-position and movable longitudinally relative to each other and are provided with a plurality of series of openings corresponding in number with the number of digits on the associated plate and when the shutters are in their normal positions one or more of the openings in each series, with the exception of that series corresponding to the digit 0, are out of alinement, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. A group of selectively operable electromagnets 8, 9, 10', and 11 is associated with each group of shutters and the armatures of said magnets are engaged respectively with the shutters 8, 9, l0 and 11, so that upon energization of any of the magnets, the respective shutters will be moved longitudinally to aline one of the openings therein with other openings of a particular series. Interposed between each group of shutters and its corresponding group of magnets is a source of light 12, which, in a manner to appear in the course of the description, will be brought into play at the termination of the operation of a shutter or shutters in the last group employed to indicate the last digit of a predetermined number whereby the selected digits in the several plates 5 will be illuminated and made distinctive from the remaining digits, thus enabling an operator to readily ascertain the number wanted.

At the left of Fig. 4, wherein are shown the circuits for operating the indicator mechanism above described, there is shown a set of digit keys 13, preferably located at an A operators position, a key being provided for each digit from 0 to 9 and adapted to be depressed to accomplish the signaling of the corresponding digit of a desired number in the indicator at the B operators position. There is also shown in Fig. 4, portions of a mechanism similar to that employed in the start and stop systems of printing telegraphy and which is described in detail in the patent to E. Ehrhardt No. 1,197,273, issued September 5, 1916, although it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not in any way restricted to the use of such a structure. The above referred to mechanism, as shown in said figure, includes a pair of synchronously revoluble brushes 14 and 15 similar to those shown in said patent and movable over contacts 16 and 17 respectively and normally held stationary by the armatures of associated magnets 18 and 19. The brush 14 is released to wipe the contact 16 and terminals 20 to 24 inclusive and finally engage terminals 24 and 25. The brush 15, when released, moves over the contact .17 and associated terminals 26 to 30 inclusive and then finally engages terminals 30 and 31. Connected to the group of terminals 21 to 24 are conductors 32 to 35, and leading from these conductors to the several digit keys are other conductors arranged in different combinations so as to render distinctive the different digits in the indicator. each of the digit keys from 5 to 9 inclusive, having two of these conductors leading therefrom, the digit keys from 1 to 4 inclusive having one conductor connected thereto while the key for the digit 0 is not connected to any of the conductors. The sequence switch 44 shown diagrammatically at the right of Fig. 4 may be of the construction illustrated and described in the Patent No. 1,127,808, issued to John N. Reynolds and Charles F. Baldwin on February 9, 1915. j

tact 16, conductor 39, contact 17, wiper 15,

terminal 26 and winding of magnet 19 to ground. Magnets 18 and 19 are energized and attract their armatures to release the respective brushes 14 and 15 whereupon the same will be moved as described in the previously mentioned patent to Ehrhardt. Upon disengagement of the brushes 14 and 15, from the terminals 20 and 26, the magnets 18 and 19 will be deenergized and the armatures thereof retracted so as to be in position to engage the brushes upon their return to normal and stop the movement thereof. The right contact of key 9 is con nected to conductors 40 and 41 so that upon operation of said key, one circuit is closed from grounded battery 36, conductors 37, 40 and 33, terminal 22, wiper 14, contact 16, conductor 39, contact 17, wiper 15, terminal 28, conductor 42, contact 43 of sequence switch 44 in its first position and through the winding of magnet 9 to ground. Magnet 9' is energized and attracts its armature to move shutter 9 of the first group to aline an opening therein with the digit 9 in the associated plate 5. The brushes 14 and 15 moving from terminals 22 and 28 will engage terminals 24 and 30, whereupon another circuit will be closed from grounded battery 36, conductors 37, 41 and 35, terminal 24, wiper 14, contact 16, conductor 39, contact 17, wiper 15, terminal 30, conductor 45, contact 46 of the sequence switch in its first position and through the winding of magnet 11 to ground. Shutter 11 associated with said magnet will be moved to aline an opening thereofi with digit 9 and also the openings of the other shutters which have been previously alined with said digit. Holding circuits for magnets 9 and 11 extend from grounded battery, sequence switch contact 47, the respective armatures of said magnets and through the windings thereof to ground. Brush 14 engaging terminals 24 and 25 closes a circuit from grounded battery, through winding of magnet 48, terminals 24' and 25 to ground after which said brush returns to normal. Magnet 48 controls a release circuit for the several digit keys which operates to return said keys to normal after being depressed in a manner well known in the art and a detailed description of this releasing operation is therefore deemed unnecessary. After the shutters of the first group have been adjusted, brush 15 engages terminals 30' and 31 and closes a circuit for sequence switch 44 extending from grounded battery, winding of magnet 49, terminals 30 and 31 to ground, thus moving said sequence switch. from position 1 toposition 2. Brush 15 then returns tonormal position.

The mechanism is now ready for the depression of the key corresponding to the second digit of the desired number and should said digit be No. 3,. the depression of this key will again close the circuit to energize magnets 18 and 19 with the pre iously described 7 result. Engagement of the brushes 14 and 15 with terminals 23 and 29 will close a circuit from. grounded battery 36, conductors 37, 50 and 34, terminal 23, wiper 14, contact 16, conductor 39, contact 17, wiper 15, terminal 29,. conductor 51, sequence switch contact 52 in position 2, and through the winding of the magnet in the second group corresponding to magnet 10 of the first group, whereupon the shutter in the second group corresponding to shutter 10 ofthe first group will be moved to aline an opening therein with the openings in the other shutters and with digit 3 in the second plate In the same manner asv previously described, magnet 48 is again energized to release key 3 and sequence switch 44 again operated to move contacts thereof into position 3. In connection with the key for the digit 0, it is again noted that no connection is established between right contact. of said key and either of conductors 32 to35 and therefore the operation of said key will only close a circuit to energize magnets 18 and 19 and start brushes 14 and 15, the same passing over their respective terminals without affecting the shutters of the associated group. Upon reaching terminals 24 and 25 however, brush 14 will again close the circuit for release magnet 48 so that key for digit 0 will be returned to normal. Also brush 15 closes the circuit for sequence switch 44 to move the same into position 4. By the operation of any other one of the digit keys and consequentsetting ot a shutter or shutters in the fourth group, the sequence switch is moved into position 5, whereupon a circuit is closed from grounded battery, through sequence switch contact 52, conductor 53 and lamps 12, associated with the several groups of shutters, to ground, whereupon said lamps will be simultaneously illuminated and the rays of light therefrom will pass through the alined openings of the several groups of shutters to render distinctive a digit of the desired number in each of the plates 5.

The B operator upon ascertaining the number manually controls sequence switch 44 to return the same from position 5 to 1 and this is preferably accomplished by a key under the control of the operator and which, when depressed, closes a circuit from grounded battery, through winding of mag net 49, conductor 54 and key 55 to ground. Circuits tor the magnets associated with the several groups of shutters and the circuit for lamps 12'will be broken with the result that the shutters which have been moved will be returned by gravity to normal and the lamps 12 extinguished.

hat is claimed is:

1. In an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group having a series of openings normally out of alinement, means for operating certain shutters of said groups to aline openings of the series in the shutters to display digits of a predetermined number, and means for illuminating said digits through said alined openings at the termination of the operation of the shutters of the several groups.

2. In an indi 'ator, indicia adapted to be rendered distinctive, a group of shutters having openings therein normally out of alinement, means for operating certain of said shutters to aline said openings, and means ett'ective thereupon for rendering said. indicia distinctive.

3. In an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group havingopenings normally out of alinement, electromagnetic means operable. to move shutters of each group in sequence to aline certain of the openings in the shutters of each. group, a character associated with the alined openings of each group, and normally inactive means for rendering the character of each group distinctive when the openings of the several groups are alined.

4. In an indicator, a plurality of plates each having a series of character indications, a group of shutters associated with each plate and having openings normally out of alinement, a source of light for illuminating the characters on said plates, and means operable to aline openings of each. group of shutters to illuminate a particular character of the plate associated with said group.

5. In an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a group of shutters having a series of openings normally out of alinement, a character associated with said series of openings, a normally inactive source of light common to said shutters and adapted to render said character distinctive when said openings are alined, and means for alining said series of openings, and means thereupon operable to render said source of light effective.

6. In an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group having a series of openings normally out of alinement, means for operating certain shutters of said groups to aline the series of openings in the shutters which correspond to the digit of a predetermined number, and normally 13c inactive means operable when the series of openings in the groups of shutters are alined for rendering distinctive the digits of a predetermined number which are associated with said series of openings.

7. in an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group having a series of openings normally out of alinement, means for operating certain shutters of said groups to aline the series of openings in the shut ters which correspond to the digit of a predetermined number, means operable when the series of openings in the groups of shutters are alined for rendering distinctive the digits of a predetermined number which are associated with said series of openings, and means under the control of an operator for rendering the last named means inactive and for returning the operated shutters of the several groups to normal position.

8. in an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group having series of openings normally out of alinement, elec tromagnetic means for operating shutters of said groups to aline the series of openings in the shutters which correspond to the digits of a predetermined number, circuits for said electromagnetic means, means for successively actuating certain of said electromagnetic means over said circuits to move the associated shutters of the groups whereby a series of openings in the shutters of each group corresponding to a digit of said number will be alined, and means for rendering distinctive the digits of said num her when the openings of the several series are alined.

9. In an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group having series of openings normally out of alinement, 'electromagnetic means for. operating shutters of said groups to aline the series of openings in the shutters which correspond to the digits of a predetermined number, circuits for said electromagnetic means, means for successively actuating certain of said electromagnetic means over said circuits to move the associated shutters of the groups whereby a series of openings in the shutters of each group corresponding to a digit of: said number will be alined, and a source of light for each group of shutters simultaneously illuminated upon the termination of the alinement of the series of openings in the several groups to render distinctive the digits of said number.

10. In an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group having series of openings normally out of alinement, a plurality of electromagnetic means individual to each group for selectively opcrating shutters of said group to aline a series of openings therein which corresponds to a digit of a predetermined number,means for operating certain of said electromagnetic means 01 each group to aline series of openings in the groups, and means for thereafter rendering distinctive the digits in the several groups which correspond to the series of alined openings in said groups.

11. In an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group having series of openings normally out of alinement, a plurality of electromagnetic means individual to each group of selectively operable shutters of said group to aline a series of openings therein which corre sponds. to a digit 01": a predetermined num ber, means for operating certain of said. electromagnetic means of each group to aline series of openings in the groups, and means for illuminating said digits upon the termination of the alinement of the series of openings in said groups.

12. In an indicator for telephone ex change systems, a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group having series of openings normally out of alinement, a plurality of electromagnetic means for each group and operable to move shutters of the respective group to aline a series of openings, a set of digit keys for operating the electromagnetic means of the several groups, and means for causing the operation of the shutters of the several groups in sequence.

18. In an indicator for telephone ex change systems, a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group having series of openings normally out of alinement, a plurality of electromagnetic means for each group and operable to move a shutter of the respective group to aline a series of openings, a set of" digit keys for operating the electromagnetic means of the several groups, means for causing the operation of the shutters of the several groups in sequence, and means controlled by the last named means for rendering distinctive the digits of a predetermined number which correspond to the series of alined openings in said groups.

14:. In an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a row of number digits, a normally inactive source of light for illuminating said digits, a plurality of shutters normally in position to render said source of light ineffective, means for operating one or more of said shutters to permit of the illumination of one of the digits in said row, and means for illuminating said source of light after the completion of the operation of said shutter or shutters.

15. In an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a row of numbered digits, a plurality of shutters normally positioned to prevent any of the digits in said row being rendered distinctive, means for operating one or more of said shutters to permit one of said digits being made distinctive, and means operated after the actuation of the last named means for rendering said digit distinctive.

16. In an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a row of number digits, a normally inactive source of light for illuminating said digits, a plurality of shutters normally in position to render said source of light ineiiective, means for operating one or more of said shutters to permit of the illumination of one of the digits in said row, means for illuminating said source of light after the completion of the operation of said shutters, and manually controlled means for returning the operated shutter or shutters to normal and for extinguishing said source of light.

17. In an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a row of number digits, a plurality of shutters normally positioned to prevent any of the digits in said row being rendered distinctive, means for operating one or more of said shutters to permit one of said digits being made distinctive, means operated after the actuation of the last named means for rendering said digit distinctive, and means for returning the operated shutter or shutters to normal and for rendering the last named means ineffective.

18. In an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a plurality of rows of number digits, a group of shutters associated With each row and normally positioned to prevent any digit in said row from being made distinctive, electromagnetic means for each group of shutters operable to move one or more of the shutters to permit oi a digit in the associated TOW being rendered distinctive, means :tor operating said electromagnetic means of the several groups in sequence, and means controlled by the last named means for rendering the selected digits distinctive at the termination of the operation of all of the electromagnetic means.

19. In'an indicator for telephone exchange systems, a plurality of rows of number digits, a group of shutters associated with each row and normally positioned to prevent any digit in said row from being made distinctive, electromagnetic means for each group of shutters operable to move one or more of the shutters to permit of a digit in the associated row being rendered distinctive, means for operating said electromagnetic means of the several groups in sequence, means controlled by the last named means for rendering the selected digits distinctive at the termlnation of the operation 01"? all of the electromagnetic means, and means under the control of an operator for actuating said last named means to return the means controlled thereby and the electromagnetic means to their normal positions.

20. In a telephone exchange system, means for setting up a telephone number, an indicator including a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group being adapted to be operated in various combinations to designate a digit of said number, a group of controlling magnets for each group of shutters selectable in accordance With the operation of the first named means, means for operating the groups of selected magnets in sequence, and means controlled by the last named means for rendering distinctive the digits of said number.

21. In a telephone exchange system, means for setting up a telephone number, an indicator including a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group being adapted to be operated in various combinations to designate a digit of said number, a group of controlling magnets for each group of shutters selectable in accordance with the operation of the first named means, means for operating the groups of selected magnets in sequence, and means for rendering distinctive the digits of said number at the termination oi the operation of the shutters in all the groups.

22. In a telephone exchange system,means for setting up a telephone number, an indicator including a plurality of groups of shutters, the shutters of each group being adapted to be operated in various combinations to designate a digit of said number, a group of controlling magnets for each group oi shutters selectable in accordance with the operation of the first named means, means for operating the groups of selected magnets in sequence, means controlled by the last named means for rendering distinctive the digits of said number, and means under the control of an operator for actuating saidlast named means to return the operated shutters to normal positions.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th day of October A. 1).,

EDGAR W. ADAMS.

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